Seal - Part 6 - Install

Seal - Part 5 - the Journey

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Exciting old trip down...

Stuck in traffic...

Seal - Part 4 - the Rust

All welded up and out in the wilds to weather. Amazing watching it evolve over a period of weeks.

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Looking forward to getting it down to Warrnambool soon.

Seal - Part 3 - Assembly

Flat Pack Safely back at the studio I set about gradually putting it all together.

lulled myself into a false sense of security after I put the the whole neck section together the first day....

things slowed right down as the size of the facets and complexity of the structure increased.

None the less I battled on and gradually it began to take form. A bit of finesse, a bit of brutal sledge hammering.

Seal - Part 2 - Flat Pack

Having worked through the design on computer and happy with the pose. Ive exported a bunch of triangles that will be laser cut from steel.


Getting the sheets back and slowly picking the bits out as I have a place for them. For sanity's sake I opted to leave the bits slightly attached to the sheets rather than having them cut out completely and just getting a bunch of bits. Keep track of which bit goes where is going to be one of the bigger challenges of the project and knowing at least which sheet the bit has come off will at least be a clue.

Seal - Part 1 - the concept

Meanwhile.... An exciting commission to create a new work to feature prominently in the Crrenter of Warrnambool as part of the Liebig Street redevelopment. The work, entitled 'Seal' hopes to strengthen the connection between the the center of town and the amazing coastal environment which is such an important part of the the town represents.Warrnambool is our closest beach from here and for me that environment that is so starkly different from the Wimmera.

Seal will take the form of the head and shoulders of a giant seal emerging from the footpath as though it has just swum up from the harbour and poked its head up at the in the middle of Liebig Street to see what’s happening. Seal will be a striking presence on the street, "though not a threatening one
rather a playful guardian-spirit looking for a playmate. With its head cocked slightly to one side
its smiling face and bright
sparkling eyes full of life
born from a CG/gaming aesthetic but with parallels in the cubist movement older residents and tourists alike. With its dramatic lines and bold edges
Seal will be instantly recognizable from a distance and provide visual interest for pedestrians from all. The oxidised surface patina will protect it from the elements and mimic the dappled brown fur of the seals in the harbour.

Lake Bolac Eel Festival - Part 4

The Birds...
Having left them as metal skeletons a few weeks ago its been great to come back and see them take on a whole new life with a layer of grasses harvested from the lake and woven onto the frames by the students at Lake Bolac College (Under the supervison of the incredibly talented duo of Bronwyn Razem and Katja).

The Emu was finished off by the students prior to the festival whilst the wings of the Brolga were complete during the festival...

...just in time for the Twilight Ceremony on saturday night.

With Festival Director Elyjah McLeod

Thanks Again to Regional Arts Victoria for their support in making this project happen.

Lake Bolac Eel Festival - Part 3

There be Eels

Lake Bolac Eel Festival - Pt 2

It's Lake Bolac Eelfest eve and the car is brimming with freshly made Eels ready to take down in the morning to install by the lake.

Looing forwar dalso t seeing how the Emu and Brolga are looking now that weavers have had their turnwith them.

Lake Bolac Eel Festival 2018 - part 1

Have been spending some time down at Lake Bolac working with some of the students there tocreate some metal bird scultptures for the festival this year.  

This is phase one. The next stp is for the weavers to harvest some ative grasses off the lake and weave them onto the birds to create the feathers and wings. Looking forwards to getting back there in a week or so to see how they've evolved.

Thanks to Regional Arts Victoria for supporting this project. Thus far its been a joy.